Staff and Collaborators

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Jessica Castro is the Owner and Project Coordinator of Urbanativa LLC. She is an ecologist with over 15 years of experience in conservation, restoration, and applied research across the Caribbean and South America. She holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Ecology, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, and has worked with organizations including the USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Jessica is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner through the Society for Ecological Restoration, bringing scientific rigor and regional expertise to Urbanativa’s conservation mission in Puerto Rico.

Albert Rivera Irizarry is a biologist and environmental educator who serves as Urbanativa’s Lighting Project Technician, leading public education and outreach initiatives focused on reducing light pollution in sensitive environments. With more than 20 years of experience in the private sector and as the owner of an ecotourism company, he brings strong expertise in public engagement, customer relations, and environmental interpretation. Albert is a certified interpretive guide through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and plays a key role in translating technical conservation strategies into accessible, community-centered solutions. 

Néstor Pérez is an ecologist and Associate Professor at the Orinoquia Campus of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He serves as an Advisor to the Mona Iguana Project, building on his graduate research and long-term studies of the Mona iguana, which have contributed critical knowledge to the conservation and management of this endemic species. Néstor brings extensive expertise in field-based research, data analysis, and science-driven decision-making to collaborative conservation initiatives focused on the Mona iguana. 

Luis Crespo is a biologist and a retired high school science teacher and principal. He currently serves as the President of Amigos de las Tortugas Marinas (ATMAR), a community-based organization with more than 20 years of experience monitoring sea turtle nesting activity in southeastern Puerto Rico. In this role, he contributes to the Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Restoration Program by supporting habitat restoration efforts, helping prioritize nesting beaches, and assisting with strategic planning and conservation decision-making. 

María J. Andrade is an applied ecologist specializing in earth systems science and social-ecological systems in Latin America. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in ecology, and a Ph.D. in environmental sciences. With more than ten years of experience working in the Caribbean and South America, her expertise includes landscape analysis, spatial modeling, and multi-scale participatory research. Her work focuses on understanding how human activities influence landscapes, ecosystems, and species, providing science-based insights to identify drivers of change and guide landscape planning, best practices, and on-the-ground biodiversity conservation actions. 

Robert Mayer is an ecologist and Full Professor at the University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla, and the Director of the  Center for Conservation and Ecological Restoration (Vida Marina). His research and professional work focus on the conservation and ecological restoration of coastal ecosystems. He leads restoration initiatives targeting dunes and basin mangroves along the north coast of Puerto Rico to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and habitats.

Robert also collaborates in sea turtle nesting habitat restoration through the construction of boardwalks and biomimetic structures that promote sand accumulation and reduce erosion at nesting beaches, as well as through native vegetation reforestation efforts.

Raymond Flores is an environmental educator who serves as the Director of Chelonia: Investigación y Conservación de Tortugas Marinas, an NGO dedicated to the research, protection, and conservation of sea turtles in Puerto Rico since 1980. Through Chelonia, he has helped lead initiatives focused on monitoring nesting beaches, protecting nests and hatchlings, conducting research, and promoting environmental education about sea turtle conservation. Raymond has been involved with the organization for decades and works closely with volunteers, community groups, and government agencies to support the protection of endangered sea turtle species and their coastal habitats across the island.